Semi-monoque railcar with huge openings
Semi-monoque railcar with huge openings
(OP)
Hi all,
Rail question on Forum with lots of stressed skin experts:
Any examples of semi-monocoque designs with really large openings? Imagine a stressed skin rail car with a 10ft wide x 15 ft high basic rectangular cross-section, 80 feet long, and openings are desired in roof measuring about 9 ft x 12 ft, at 2 places!
As I understand it, gravity and longitudinal strength manageable, but in torsion, it just doesn't work without huge weight impact. However, opening is only needed to be accessed once every 6-7 yrs.
Are you aware of any similar structures? Does anyone use a structural hatch in practice?
tg
Rail question on Forum with lots of stressed skin experts:
Any examples of semi-monocoque designs with really large openings? Imagine a stressed skin rail car with a 10ft wide x 15 ft high basic rectangular cross-section, 80 feet long, and openings are desired in roof measuring about 9 ft x 12 ft, at 2 places!
As I understand it, gravity and longitudinal strength manageable, but in torsion, it just doesn't work without huge weight impact. However, opening is only needed to be accessed once every 6-7 yrs.
Are you aware of any similar structures? Does anyone use a structural hatch in practice?
tg
RE: Semi-monoque railcar with huge openings
Examples of large opening .. There are 2 types of arrangements. 'Plug' and 'Integral'. Plug arrangement - A structure is built around the opening that is capable of transferring the shear loads around the opening. The door is just a 'plug' to either/or separate the interior from the environment and/or contain the internal pressurization. Ie: Plug .. Opening frame so designed that internal forces push the door into a frame which is slightly smaller than the area of the door - thus plugging the opening. The loss of this 'door' is usually not detrimental to the overall integrity of the structure.
- An 'integral' door contains mechanisms that bind it to the surround structure of the opening. By means of hooks & latches it re-establishes a continuous load path across the opening. Most modern jetliners are of this type. A loss of the 'door' would significantly endanger the integrity of the structure.